Klarinet Archive - Posting 000219.txt from 1996/09

From: Luuk van Buul <vanbuul@-----.COM>
Subj: Knots in wood (was: R-13 shopping)
Date: Sat, 14 Sep 1996 23:36:16 -0400

On Aug 28, Steve Prescott wrote:

[interesting remarks skipped]

>
> >Question 3. What kind of defects can be expected in new R-13s? Which
> >should be cause for immediate rejection and which can be easily
> >fixed?
>
> I think I've answered this question above. The main thing I look for
> (visually) when purchasing a clarinet is straight wood grain. Knots
> (though not always...no pun intended) can lead to cracks.
>
>
>

This is contrary to what the people at the Leblanc factory told me. They
literally said: 'Knots do not have any influence on the quality of the
instrument or on the forming of cracks. Only because people don't want knots, we
select the 'better' wood for the more expensive instruments. This is one of the
main reasons that these instruments are more expensive. It is just a cosmetic
problem.'

Most cracks I've seen are located in the upper joint, going through one or more
of the side trill holes. This is independent of any knots, which should be
distributed uniformly over the instrument.

Luuk van Buul

--
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L.J.M. van Buul vanbuul@-----.com
Philips Research Waalre Philips Optoelectronics Centre
Prof.Holstlaan 4
5656 AA Eindhoven Tel. +31 40 2744649
The Netherlands Fax. +31 40 2744335
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